Advertising card conveyer



Aug. 25, 1953 c. BUSTAMANTE ADVERTISING CARD CONVEYER Filed NOV. 10, 1950 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITEIDV} STATES PATENT OFFICE Cesar Bustamante, New York, N. Y.

Application November 10, 1950, Serial No. 195,116

This invention relates to advertising devices and, more particularly, to conveyorized advertising apparatus wherein a series of advertising cards are carried by an endless conveyor which is so arranged that the advertisements are exhibited as they travel along the length of the conveyor. Such conveyors may be used in surface, subway and elevated cars, in busses, in stores and. other appropriate places. They, in effect, double the advertising space and also in crease the eye-attraction through the placing of the advertisements in motion.

Such conveyorized advertising apparatus as has heretofore been proposed. is unsatisfactory for one reason or another. Either the conveyor mechanism has been so constructed as to require the use of advertisements printed on flexible sheets, or, in such apparatus as accommodated stiif cards, the apparatus was operated with only a single endless conveyor chain so that only comparatively small advertising cards could be successfully used. Also in the prior apparatus there is a tendency for the conveyor mechanism to become jammed to the extent of preventing operation, and it has been found difiicult to prevent the cards from tipping some in one direction and some in the opposite. I

The object of the presentinvention is to overcome such difficulties and provide an advertising conveyor apparatus to accommodate advertising cards which may be either stiff orfiexible as desired, the cards being maintained in upright position at all times so as to present an attractive appearance, and the tendency to join or bind being eliminated.

The invention will be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings and following detailed description wherein the invention is embodied in an advertising conveyor structure which is intended to be placed in a subway or street car to take the place of the usual rack of advertising cards on each side of the car near the roof.

Referring to these drawings, Fig.1 is 'a view of this apparatus in'frqnt elevation with certain parts broken away to show the interior construction; I

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; s

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 ofFig.1; f

Figs. 4 and 5 are projectional or perspective views of the rear and thefront respectively of an advertising card carrier and its associated parts;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horiaontaljsection taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, r

5 Claims. (CI. 40-96) Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the conveyor apparatus comprises a frame structure consisting of two parallel longitudinal channel sections, and 2, which are tied together at intervals by means of vertical tie pieces 3 to form a frame-work of considerable rigidity. These parts are preferably made of sheet metal, such as steel, of appropriate thickness to give the re quired strength without undue weight. The spacing of channel members I and 2 is made approximately the same as the width of the usual advertising card rack found in subway cars, surface cars, busses, etc. The length of the structure can be varied to suit the particular car or bus in which it is to be installed. While Fig. 3 shows the structure in vertical position it may be mounted in inclined position so as to place the surface of the advertising cards therein approximately normal to the average line of vision of the passengers in the car or bus.

Two endless conveyor chains are employed, a lower chain 4 and an upper chain 5. These two chains are trained around suitable sprockets at their opposite ends. Thus the sprockets for lower chain 4 are indicated at 6 and i (Fig. 1) and the upper chain 5 at 6' and I. Sprockets 1 and I are idler sprockets and 6 and 6' are driving sprockets, each of these latter being a one piece double sprocket so as to accommodate driving chains 8 and 8 respectively on their outer rows of teeth. These driving chains pass around suitable sprockets fixed to a drive shaft 9 at the left end of the conveyor which extends upwardly from a gear reducing box H1 mounted on the frame of a driving motor II. It will be understood that the gear reduction in box It] is such as to cause the conveyor chains 4 and 5 to travel at a moderate speed, appropriate for a device of this character.

All of the sprockets just referred to are mounted on stud shafts which project inwardly from the channel members I and 2. One of these shafts is indicated at 12 in Fig. 6 where it will also be seen that sprocket l (which is typical) turns on this shaft and is provided with an elongated hub |3 for the purpose of supporting the sprocket at the proper distance above the inner surface of the lower channel member I.

The two conveyor chains 4 and 5 are inter-connected at intervals slightly greater than the horizontal length of the advertising cards by means of vertical supporting members l4. These members are provided at their ends with horizontal ears l5 which are apertured as shown in Fig. 4 to receive respectively a pin l6 projecting upwardly from lower chain 4 on its pitch line, and

a pin 15 projecting downwardly from upper chain 5. These pins fit loosely in the apertures in ears i5 so as not to exert any restricting action on either chain i or chain 5, should one of these chains travel slightly in advance of the other and consequently tilt supporting member M to a position somewhat inclined from the vertical.

Each of these supporting members He carries a card frame ii in the form of a-sheet metal plate of light gauge which may be either fiat, or slightly concave, on its outer surface as shown in the drawings. The card frames I! have inwardly turned upper and lower margins 18 formin slots to receive and support the respective advertising cards 19 of paper, cardboard or other a suitable material, as is customary. If desired, the end portions of card frames I! may be provided with removable margin strips whereby to provide, with the turned edges I3, surrounding marginal portions to mask the edges of the advertising cards.

It is important that card frames ll be pivotally mounted on their respective supportinmembers I4 because, as mentioned above, supports M may not be maintained in vertical position by their driving chains, and the card frame ll must be maintained in horizontal position throughout their travel along the conveyor in order to present an acceptable appearance. Accordingly card frames i? are pivoted at 25 at their centers to the vertical centers of their respective supports M. Although supports M are preferably curved to approximately the curvature of the backs of frames ill, the arrangement is such that each frame can turn freely a few degrees in either direction on its pivot 2!. This is accomplished by means of a loose pivot mounting as, for example, by employing a shouldered rivet as shown in Fig. 5 as the pivot means.

In order to maintain the card frames I! in horizontal position as they travel from one end to the other of the conveying apparatus each of the frames is provided with a pair of horizontally projecting bosses or feet .22 which rest on the upper surface of lower chain 4, thischain being in turn arranged to travel along the horizontal surface of a shallow channel member 23 (Fig.3) which extend lengthwise of lower frame channel i between the sprockets 5 and i (Fig. 6), and serves as a horizontalguide for chain 4. Hence, chain c is maintained in horizontal position and, in turn, through feet 22, it .maintains theseveral card frames H in horizontal position. The upper chain 5 is supported at intervals between its sprockets 5 and .l by the card frame support Hi.

It will be understood that the respective .advertising cards are exhibited as frames 11 are moved along the conveyor frame structure in end-to-end relationship and with their ends slightly spaced apart from one another, .as .the front reaches of the two conveyor-chains .4 and 5 move from left to right. As each card frame I! approaches the right end of the device the pivot pins i6 and I6, carrying such frame through its supporting member i4, move around the two idler sprockets i and i. This imparts a rearward motion to the card carrier and :its right end strikes a stationary sloping cam member 24 which is a narrow vertical member '(Eig. 6)

mounted on a block 25. This block extends to the right of lower sprocket l, a similar block extending to the left of sprocket 6. These blocks are the same height as channel 23 so that the forward feet 22 of the card frames at both ends-of the conveyor will engage such block and maintain the card frames horizontal as they shift from front to rear, and vice versa. As the forward end of the card frame strikes cam 24 it is forced horizontally outward, so that as the card frame commences to be carried towards the left by the rear reaches of the conveyor chains, this opposite end will clear and pass to the rear of a vertical partition 26 which is provided for the purpose of concealing .the cards and their card frames as they travel back toward the left end of the apparatus.

Upon reaching the left end of the apparatus the procedure just described is repeated with respect to the left hand sprockets 6 and 6, the left end of the card carrier I! which is turning on these sprockets striking an oppositely positioned .cam 21 which causes the frame to turn on its pivot and shift its right end outwardly so as to clear the left end of partition 26 as the card car- 'rier starts another journey toward the right of the conveyor.

Partition 26 is preferably a solid sheet metal member which is mounted at its lower edge on a narrow channelmemberZB extending along the upper surface of channel 23 and serving to separate the forward and rear reaches of the lower conveyor chain '4. The upper edge of partition 2.6 may be "secured by welding or riveting or otherwise to the inner surface of upper frame channel 2.

By means of this invention there has been provided a conveyorized advertising device which operates without jamming or binding and with relatively smallfriction and which, nevertheless, is provided with two simultaneously operating conveyor chains, one above and one below the card carrier, so that cards of extreme width (several feet) may be used if desired. Also these cardsmay be of any desired proportion since the mechanism of the invention maintains the card frames in upright position regardless of whether these frames arerelatively narrow Or relatively wide. The construction is rug ed and may be operated for long periods with little servicing.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the invention as described and illustrated and the invention embodied in other types .of advertising conveyors without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended-claims.

I.claim:

.1. In advertisingconveyor apparatus, a pair of vertically spaced endless conveyorchains,sprocketsateach end-of said chains, means for simultaneously .driving said chains, .card frame supports spaced along saidchains throughout both front and rear reaches thereof, pivot means for connecting said supports .to each -of said chains to allow said supports to remain-in a forwardfacing position as they are carried around said sprockets and also :to allow-said supports to tilt should one driving chain travel ahead of or behind the other, card frames carried by said supports, each frame being pivoted to its support by .a single horizontal pivot, and each of said frames having means engaging the .lower conveyorchain to :maintain the frame in horizontal position as it travels.

2. -An advertising conveyor apparatus as set forth .ineclaim 1 whereinastationary track-like support is provided for the Flower conveyor chain, the upper chain being supported in approximately horizontal position .by the spaced card f ame pp rts.

3. An advertising conveyor apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a vertical partition is provided between the front and rear reaches of the conveyor chains to conceal from view the advertising cards and their frames as they move along the rear reaches of said chains.

4. An advertising conveyor apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a member is provided for horizontally guiding the lower conveyor chain.

5. In advertising conveyor apparatus, a pair of vertically spaced endless conveyor chains, sprockets at each end of said chains, means for simultaneously driving said chains, card frame supports spaced along said chains throughout both front and rear reaches thereof, pivot means for connecting said supports to each of said chains to allow said supports to remain in a forwardfacing position as they are carried around said sprockets and also to allow said supports to tilt 20 6 should one driving chain travel ahead of or behind the other, card frames carried by said supports, each frame being pivoted to its support by a single horizontal pivot, means for horizontally guiding one of said conveyor chains, and each of the card frames having means engaging the conveyor chain which is carried by said guiding means to maintain the frame in horizontal position as it travels.

CESAR BUSTAMANTE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,471,216 Soenksen Oct. 6, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 162,265 Great Britain Dec. 22, 1921 

